Title: Soldier
Author: craiglockdhart
Pairings: Kangwon, Sihan, Kangteuk
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Military sex in the trenches (Kangin/Siwon), alternate reality, painful ignorance on the author's part on history. And how can anyone resist the chance to write !bottom Siwon when it is so. goddamned. hot.
August 1917
Dear Mum, Dad and Hankyung,
It is our 27th week in the trenches and my team is holding up well against the enemy fire.
I have met many brave and good brothers, and we have triumphed many times.
All is well with me. We will return in victory.
Love,
Siwon
"Choi Siwon?"
"Yes hyung?"
"Do you really believe a word you wrote?"
"No. But I don't want my family to worry."
Kangin smiled, shaking his head at the younger man, "You remind me so much of Yesung."
"Yesung?"
"My partner... buddy actually, before you. He got killed in enemy fire.", Kangin took out the dog-tag that he kept on the chain around his neck, "Kim Jongwoon."
"He must have been a fine young man."
"He was. And you? What happened to your partner?"
"Kyuhyun? He's in the war hospital. Shell shock. You know, the blast went off nearly in his face. At least he's with his family now.", Siwon felt his heart ache with the memory, "Cho Kyuhyun. they never let me see him before they took him away."
"Who's Hankyung?"
"Geng? He's... my lover.", Siwon uttered these words hesitantly, not sure how Kangin would take to the news.
"You're like me then.", Kangin put a brotherly arm around Siwon, "His name is Jungsoo. Though we all call him Leeteuk. He's special you see. The only son. That's why he didn't get drafted."
"Hankyung isn't local.", Siwon sighed as a faraway look came upon his face, "His family came here to seek refuge. And look what happened."
"It isn't your fault our country is incapable of protecting its people. But you know, every time I'm out there, I tell myself that I'm protecting my family, my loved ones. And that keeps me alive."
"Hyung... Thanks."
"Whatever for?"
"I don't know. I just feel better now."
"Ryeowook! Ryeowook! No..... Please, wake up, Wookie!"
The trench was filled with Siwon's anguished cries as he crouched over a bloodied body.
Ryeowook's small, malnourished frame was without life now, even as Siwon's salty tears fell upon him.
The other soldiers only shook their head resignedly. They were used to death by now.
Kangin stood by Siwon, bruised and battered himself, but otherwise very much alive.
"Siwon... Siwon... Let it go. It's probably for the better"
"Wookie... He's only a child... Hyung, why? Why did they have to take him down? He's just a boy..."
"So are all of us, Siwon. We were all boys. The war was supposed to turn us into men. But look at all of us now, we're all half alive - half the boys we used to be. Look at all of them, so accustomed to death now they don't even shed a tear. Maybe Ryeowook is in a better place. Up there, there is no pain."
"We are not men. We're only animals.", Siwon mumbled repeatedly, crumbling against the wall behind him
"Siwon!", Kangin's voice trembled as he held him, "Siwon please..."
In the midst of that embrace of pain Kangin felt his lips make contact with the younger man's forehead, his arms tightening as he held Siwon tighter in comfort. Siwon broke away, then moved his own lips to Kangin's, deepening the kiss, and thrusting his tongue into Kangin's mouth. He could feel Kangin's hands roaming all over his body under his uniform now, pressed up against the walls of the muddy trench.
"So take me, like an animal now. Help me forget the man I'm supposed to be.", he whispered urgently.
"Don't. Tempt. Me", Kangin replied, his voice strangled.
"You don't have to be gentle. I'm not your Teuk. Do whatever you like.", Siwon pulled open Kangin's shirt and began to nibble at his neck, "We might just die tomorrow and you'll regret not fucking me."
"As you wish."
Kangin's hands roamed to Siwon's pants and tugged them off carelessly, pushing them to Siwon's knees.
He found Siwon's member and grasped it with quick, hard strokes, "For lube.", he muttered, "I don't want to hurt you."
Drawing sharp intakes of breath as he felt himself approaching the edge, Siwon nearly choked as he retorted, "I told you - You don't have to be gentle with me."
"You're not Teukie, Siwon. But you're my buddy. And friends don't hurt each other."
And Siwon reached climax in his hand.
Siwon could feel Kangin's fingers pushing at his entrance, coated with his own warm fluids.
Kangin wanted him too, He could tell, but still insisted on taking it slow.
And for that moment, Siwon felt that this Leeteuk was a very, very lucky man indeed.
Moving against his fingers as he searched for the elusive spot, Siwon threw his arms over Kangin's shoulders.
"Hyung... You can come in now.", he whispered.
The two entwined men thrust against each other urgently, slamming against the walls of the trench. It was deserted now as the other soldiers had moved on elsewhere, away from the gore and the duty of clearing the dead, leaving the two men in the throes of their illusions of ecstasy.
And when Kangin came, deep within Siwon with a moan, he leaned forward to whisper, "Thank you Siwon. I needed that"
Siwon grinned, "It's been some time for us both."
"When this ends, Siwon, I want you to meet Leeteuk. You'll be my best man"
Siwon shook his head, smiling as he replied, "Hyung. I want Hankyung and I to get married on the same day as you. In the same chapel."
"And we'll have kids - I'm guessing we adopt. And they'll grow up as best friends."
Siwon nodded.
The future was bright, he believed.
Kangin, this mysterious Leeteuk person, himself and Hankyung.
He knew they would love Hankyung, just as he looked forward to meeting Leeteuk.
And out of the corner of his eye he could have sworn Ryeowook had a faint smile upon his lips.
"God bless you, Ryeowook."
November 1918
Dear Geng,
The war has ended and we have triumphed.
God has blessed Kangin-hyung and I for we will be returning by next week.
He will take us to meet his partner, Leeteuk, and I trust we will be good friends.
I know that it is extremely insincere to say this by letter, but I do not want to wait any longer.
I love you, Geng. I have missed you and prayed every night that you are well.
Will you marry me?
All my love,
Siwon
Siwon held Hankyung in his arms - their first embrace after two years as he listened to the words he'd been longing to hear.
"Yes. A thousand times yes. I love you"